The more I have studied the Bible. I have recognized that I don’t need to know the answer to everything about God. There is such a thing as healthy non-belief. There are some questions to which the best answer we can give is, “I don’t know.” You need to be clear about what the Bible is clear about. You can know that God is ultimately in control. “So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. “ (Romans 8:28, TPT)
God, I know that no
purpose of yours can be upset. Help me to have humility about the secret things
that I cannot identify and to be certain about the things that I can know. There will be things in your life that make no sense to you.
They may tempt you to despair. You might feel like throwing up your hands and
saying, “That’s absurd. What’s the point? I give up.” Faith lives with
unanswered questions. Seize this, and it will help you make sense of life. Below
are secrets that belong to the Lord.
The
events of tomorrow- “Some
of you say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a
year, do business, and make money.” Listen, think about this: You
don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Your life is like a fog. You can see it
for a short time, but then it goes away. “(James
4:13-14, ERV) You don’t even know what your plans
will be in the near future.
The
future of your children-What will happen to your children? Will they marry, be happy,
or prosper? This was certainly in the minds of those who heard Moses on the
verge of the Promised Land.
The
manner of your death-How long will you live? Will you reach old age, or will God
take you while you are still relatively young? Will you die of an illness, or
will it be an accident? Will you have a sound mind as you grow older? These are
things you must trust God to know.
The
outcome of your ministry-As you serve the Lord, there will be times when you’ll find
yourself asking, “Am I doing anything of lasting value?” You pray and wonder if
you are making any difference. You wonder if anyone (but God) notices the
sacrifices you are making.
The
progress of your Christian life-God is making you to the image of
his Son, Jesus Christ. There is progress in dedication, but it is not always
noticeable. You thought you were making progress that you had left those sins
behind that you had conquered are now back again in full force.
Will you ever
be the person God is calling you to be? If you are a Christian, you will know
what it is to face the mystery of your own sin. Look at the vastness of what
you don’t know, and the things God has kept secret. Faith is humbled before the
mysteries that God has kept hidden from you.
The
reason for your suffering-All of us at some time will ask the question, “Why?” For
some it is a painful question. Why was I born into my family? Why did this
illness come to me? Why did that awful event happen to my friends? You ask the
question, but you don’t have the answer.
The
salvation of your loved ones-You have unbelieving family,
neighbors, and friends, and you’ve been praying for them and sharing the God
with them. They have no interest in the love of Christ. Will they be converted?
You don’t know, but God does.
“Of all things,
guard against neglecting God in the secret place of prayer.” (William Wilberforce)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“7
Secrets that Belong to the Lord—Part 1” by Colin Smith
·
“7
Secrets that Belong to the Lord—Part 2” by Colin Smith
·
“The
Secret Things” by Pippa Adds
This post is dedicated
to my small group leader, Mark Platt, who made me aware of Deuteronomy 29:29.
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